The University of Illinois at Springfield will host an informational panel discussion on civil unions beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, October 20, in conference room C/D, lower level of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Panelists will include Rick Garcia, public policy director for Equality Illinois; Jim Madigan, staff attorney at Lambda Legal; and Gail Clodfelter, a representative for Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Springfield. Discussants will also include a couple who will be directly affected by the passage or defeat of the Civil Unions Act (HB 1826), currently pending in the Illinois House of Representatives.
HB 1826, The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, would extend basic state-level protections and responsibilities to all adult, committed couples by recognizing civil unions. The Act also preserves the separation of church and state and ensures that religious denominations would not be forced to recognize or sanctify relationships they oppose.
Sponsors of this discussion session are the UIS Safe Zone program and Campus Health Service.
For more information, contact Campus Health Services at UIS at 206-6676.
